Olivia Wahl
16 January 2026
Part Two of my S5E20 @schoolutionspodcast conversation with Dr. Michelle Chanda Singh, learn about effective digital media and edu tech tools that give students creative agency, fostering interactive learning. In this episode, you'll discover: 🎯 Why traditional curriculum fails and how storytelling bridges the gap 📱 Digital storytelling tools: Canva and Adobe Spark 🎤 The guest speaker strategy that actually resonates with students 👨👩👧👦 How a 10th-grade interview assignment preserved family legacy ✨ The difference between "supporting" and "RAISING" classrooms 🚀 One actionable next step to start Monday morning Michelle shares how a simple 10th-grade assignment—interviewing an elder family member—became an irreplaceable treasure when her grandfather passed two years later. This is storytelling as legacy, connection, and curriculum combined. 💫Check out Part One & Digital Tools Mentioned: • Canva for Education • Adobe Spark • Microsoft Clip Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction: From Why to How—Taking Action with Storytelling 1:00 - Welcome Back to Part Two with Dr. Michelle Chanda Singh 1:46 - Reminder: Listen to Part One First! 2:00 - Bridge Building Solutions: Why Incorporate Storytelling into Curriculum? 2:22 - Storytelling Makes Teaching Human, Simply Put 2:48 - Traditional Curriculum Misses the Mark: The Gaps 3:09 - Storytelling Democratizes Education 4:00 - Seeing Ourselves as Whole Human Beings, Not Victims 4:26 - Digital Storytelling Tools: Capturing and Creating Stories 5:00 - The Power of Canva: Student Agency in Storytelling 5:31 - Removing Barriers: Not Every Student Wants to Raise Their Hand 6:00 - Adobe Spark and Free Educator Accounts 6:42 - Collaborative Memoir Writing: NCTE Session Inspiration 7:00 - Funds of Knowledge: Interviewing Family Members 7:42 - The 10th Grade Assignment That Changed Everything 8:00 - Meet Michelle's Grandfather: The Father Figure Who Made It All Possible 9:00 - Recording the Interview: A Moment of Intuition 9:42 - Discovering Family History: Seeing Grandpa as a Teenager 10:00 - 2 Years Later: Grandfather Passes Away 10:42 - Creating the Funeral Slideshow: Videos Become Legacy 11:00 - Stories Passed Down to Great-Niece's Twins 11:42 - Guest Speakers: Beyond the Perfect Resume 12:00 - Kids Need Real Human Stories, Not Just Credentials 12:42 - The HBCU Guest Speaker Example: Pastor and First Lady 13:00 - Models Who Look Like Them: 90% Black or Caribbean Descent 13:42 - "How Did You Get From Here to There?" The Stories That Matter 14:00 - Mentorship Through Lived Experience 14:42 - Balance: Expertise AND Human Touch 15:00 - Michelle's Quote: "Stories Resonate, Connect, and Cultivate Community" 15:42 - One Next Step for Monday: Start Small 16:00 - Stories as Entry Points to Learning 16:42 - Video Clips, Podcasts, Student Grandparent Stories 17:00 - Storytelling Is NOT an Add-On—It's the Foundation 17:42 - Connection to Learning, to Each Other, to Content, to Teachers 18:00 - "We're Raising the People. We're Raising the Humanity." 18:22 - Closing: Emotional Engagement 18:42 - Olivia's Reflection: Try One Story-Based Entry Point 19:00 - Preview: Next Week with Maria Walther on Read Alouds 19:42 - Credits and Thank You 20:00 - How to Connect and Share This Episode When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
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